Device for cleaning internal cylindrical surfaces



Nov. 7, 1961 1... MOYE 3,007,187

DEVICE FOR CLEANING INTERNAL CYLINDRICAL SURFACES Original Filed June 18, 1959 INVENTOR LAMAR MOVE ATTORNEYS s,ae7,1s7 DEVICE FOR CLEANING INTERNAL YLHNDRICAL SURFACES Lamar Moye, 233 Madiera Ave., Coral Gables, Fla. Continuation of application Ser. No. 821,128, June 18, 1959. This application Oct. 3, 1960, Ser. No. 60,217 10 Claims. (Cl. 15104.09)

This invention relates to cleaning and more particularly to a device for cleaning internal cylindrical surfaces and specifically for cleaning surfaces on pipe fittings which are normally utilized in making a soldered joint, and is a continuation of pending application Serial No. 821,128, filed June 18, 1959, noW abandoned.

In the use of copper or brass tubing for water or other fluid conduit systems, it is common practice to utilize cast or machined fittings in the form of couplings, elbows, Ts, and the like, and these fittings are commonly secured to the brass or copper tubing by a soldered joint. The internal surfaces of the fittings are machined to provide the necessary clearance between the outer surface of the tubing and the inner surface of the fitting and solder is run into the space between the tubing and the fitting to provide a liquid-tight soldered joint. In order to provide such a joint, it is essential that the surface of both the tubing and the fitting be absolutely clean, since if such surfaces are dirty or oxidized, the solder will not adhere thereto and an imperfect joint will result thereby frequently causing leaks.

There is no particular problem in cleaning the external surfaces of the tubing since this may be conveniently done with a piece of emery cloth, or the like, but to properly clean the internal cylindrical surfaces of the fittings has presented quite a problem. Heretofore scrapers have been used, but these are relatively inefficient and diflicult to handle and also one portion of the surface may be cleaned and another surface improperly cleaned thereby resulting in a poor joint. Also, it has been attempted to utilize emery cloth, or the'like, on a circular tool, such as, a wood dowel, and while this method may work for a given diameter, it is extremely difficult to use such a method where different diameters of fittings are frequently employed. Certain types of devices or implements have also:

been developed for this operation, but the majority of these operate in the nature of pliers with the result that the cleaning members do not engage the entire surface of the fitting to be cleaned, since'the cleaning implements are disposed at an angle and where the surface is cylindri cal as in the majority of cases, considerable difficulty has been experienced in cleaning the entire cylindrical surface. As is Well known, the oxide which commonly forms on these surfaces is relatively hard, so that a firm scraping or abrading action is needed to remove such oxide, with the result that the devices heretofore provided for this purpose fail to provide the proper cutting, scraping or abrading actionto efficiently clean the surface.

It is accordingly an object of this invention to provide a device for cleaning internal cylindrical surfaces in which brushes engage the entire surface to be cleaned and provide a scraping action for properly cleaning such surface.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a device for cleaning internal surfaces in which the cleaning portions of the implement contact the entire surface to be cleaned and also a device in which the cleaning implements will engage the surface to be cleaned, regardless of the diameter thereof.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a device for cleaning internal cylindrical surfaces, particularly in plumbing fittings and in which the device may be conveniently held and operated by one hand of the user while the fitting is held in the other hand.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a rates atent device for cleaning internal cylindrical surfaces in which the cleaning implement includes a series of parallel wires adhesively secured to a non-metallic backing and in which the ends of the wires are beveled to provide scraping edges, such wires providing brushes which may be conveniently replaced after undue wear.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a device for cleaning internal cylindrical surfaces in which the cleaning implements are formed by a series of parallel wires providing scraping edges and in which such wires are secured in a manner to permit flexing thereby providing for full contact with the surface to be cleaned, regardless of the presence of projections or imperfections in such surface.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a device for cleaning internal cylindrical surfaces, which device may be conveniently and economically constructed from readily available materials by relatively inexpensive stamping operations thereby resulting in an implement which may be mass produced at a relatively low cost.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description taken in conjunction With the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of a device constructed in accordance with this invention and showing in dotted lines a fitting to be cleaned, together with the position occupied by the cleaning device during the cleaning operation;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary exploded view in perspective showing the cleaning portions of the device and the manner in which the same are assembled;

FIGURE 3 is a sectional View, taken substantially on the line 3-3 of FIGURE 1 and showing the manner in which the cleaning implements engage the surface to be cleaned; and

FIGURE 4 is a plan view with parts broken away for greater clarity and showing one of the cleaning elements and the manner in which the wires forming such elements are adhesively secured to a backing.

With continued reference to the drawing, there is shown a device for cleaning internal cylindrical surfaces constructed in accordance with this invention and which may well comprise a frame it including an elongated bar 11 of channel cross section and a handle 12 also of channel cross section and extending from one end of the bar 11 at substantially right angles thereto. At the opposite end of the bar 11 from the handle 12, there is provided a finger 13 projecting at right angles to the bar 11 and in the plane of the handle 12 and, as best shown in FIGURE 3, the finger 13 is provided with an elongated longitudinally disposed slot 14 in the free end thereof. The purpose of the slot 14 will be presently described.

A slide 15 of channel cross section is slidably received on the bar 11 and, as shown in FIGURE 1, the slide 15 may move between the full line position and the dotted line position for a purpose to be later described.

The slide 15 may be secured in place on the bar 11 by tabs 16 bent over the bar 11 thereby permitting the slide 15 to freely slide on the bar 11 and in order to urge the slide 15 toward the finger 13 on the bar 11, there may be provided a compression spring 17 disposed in the channel of the bar 11 with one end 18 of the spring 17 engaging 3 right angles thereto at the end of the slide opposite to the handle 12 and, as clearly shown in FIGURE 1, the finger 23 is disposed in the plane of the finger 13 and is substantially parallel thereto. In common with the finger 13, the finger 23 is also provided with an elongated longi tudinally disposed slot 24 in the free end thereof.

The cleaning implements utilized with the device of this invention comprise a plurality of parallel metal wires 25 of suitable material and, as best shown in FIGURES 2 and 4, such wires are secured to a non-metallic backing 26 by an adhesive 27 applied to the surface of the backing 26 and this operates to provide a flat brush designated generally at 28 which may be manufactured in long strips and cut to any desired length for use in the tool or device of this invention. As best shown in FIG- URES 2 and 3, a brush 28 composed of the wires, as above described, is secured to the finger 13 and to the finger 23 and, as will be seen from an inspection of FIG- URE 3, the brush 28 is secured to the finger 13 with one end 29 of the brush 28 projecting outwardly from the finger 13 and with the end 30 beveled to provide a scraping edge. The brush 28, is secured to the finger 13 by a plate 31 having a rib 32 engaging the wires 25 of the brush 28 in alignment with the slot 14 and the plate 31 is provided with a hook 33 at the lower end engaging over the free end of the finger l3 and the upper end 34 of the plate 31 is secured to the finger 13 by screw threaded fastening means or the like 35. This results in bending the mid-portion 36 of the wires 25 forming the brush 28 into the slot 14 of the finger 13 thereby securely clamping the brush 28 in place, but it is to be noted that a clearance 37 is provided between the plate 31 and the ends 29 of the wires 25 thereby permitting such wires to flex during a cleaning operation and for a purpose to be presently described.

In a similar manner, a second brush 28 is secured to the finger 23 by means of a plate 38 having a rib 39 disposed in alignment with the slot 24 in the finger 23 and the plate 38 is provided with a hook 40 engaging over the free end of the finger 23 and the upper end 41 of the plate '38 is secured to the finger 23 by screw threaded fastening means, or the like, 42. As shown in FIGURE 3, this results in bending the center section 43 of the wires 25 forming the brush 28 into the slot 24 of the finger 23. A clearance 44 is provided between the plate 38 and the ends 45 of the brush 28 secured to the finger 23 in order to permit flexing of such brush and the outer end 46 of the brush 28 secured to the finger 23 is beveled to provide scraping edges in the same manner as the brush secured to the finger 13.

In use, a fitting 47 to be cleaned is positioned over the fingers 13 and 23 with the surface 48 to be cleaned disposed opposite the brushes 28 secured to the fingers 13 and 23. The fitting 47 is held in one hand while the device of this invention is grasped in the other hand with the finger engaging the finger engaging member 22 and upon movement of the member 22 and the slide 15 toward the handle 12, the outer ends 30 and 46 of the brushes 28 engage the surface 48 of the fitting 47 to be cleaned. It will be noted that the ends 30 and 46 of the brushes 28 engage the entire cylindrical surface 48 to be cleaned and upon relative rotation between the fitting 47 and the cleaning device, the edges of the brushes 28 will operate to scrape the surface 48 thereby effectively cleaning the same. If there be ridges or other imperfections in the surface 48, the fact that the individual wires 25 forming the brushes 28 may flex because of the clearance provided between the clamping plates and the wires forming the brushes, such brushes will pass over the projections or imperfections without disturbing the remainder of the wires forming the brushes, thereby still contacting the entire surface and a thorough cleaning action will result. Since, the brushes 28 are disposed in parallel relationship, the samernay be expanded to engage a fitting of any desired diameter and re 4 gardless of the diameter of such fitting within the limits of the tool, the entire surface of the fitting to be cleaned will be engaged by the scraping edges of the brushes. The brushes may be replaced after wear simply by removing the clamping plates and applying new brushes to the fingers 13 and 23 after which the plates 31 and 38 may be replaced to clamp the brushes in place and since the brushes constructed in accordance with this invention are relatively inexpensive, replacement thereof may be accomplished to maintain sharpened scraping edges at a minimum of cost.

It will be seen that by the above described invention there has been provided a relatively simple, yet highly effective, device for cleaning internal cylindrical surfaces and one which may be manufactured and sold at a comparatively low cost and also a device in which the scraping or cleaning brushes may be easily replaced in order to maintain the device in condition for effective cleaning operations.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made in the invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof and, therefore, the invention is not limited by that which is shown in the drawing and described in the specification, but only as indicated in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A device for cleaning internal cylindrical surfaces, said device including a frame comprising an elongated bar of channel cross section, a handle on one end of said bar extending at substantially right angles thereto, a finger on the opposite end of said bar extending at substantially right angles thereto in the plane of said handle, said finger having an elongated longitudinally disposed slot in the free end, a fiat brush comprising a plurality of parallel wires disposed on the outer surface of said finger over said slot with said wires disposed transversely and projecting outwardly of one side edge of said finger, means for clamping said brush in position comprising a plate having a hook at one end received over the free end of said finger, a longitudinal rib on said plate in alignment with said slot and engaging said wires to force the center portions thereof into said slot and means for releasably securing the opposite end of said plate to said finger, a slide of channel cross section slidably received on said bar, a second finger on the end of said slide adjacent said first finger extending at substantially right angles to said slide in the plane of said first finger, said second finger having an elongated longitudinally disposed slot in the free end, a second flat brush comprising a plurality of parallel wires disposed on the inner surface of said second finger over the slot therein with said wires disposed transversely and projecting outwardly of the side edge of said second finger opposite to said one side edge of said first finger, means for clamping said second brush in position comprising a second plate having a hook at one end received over the free end of said second finger, a longitudinal rib on said second plate in alignment with the slot in said second finger and engaging the wires of said second brush to force the center portions thereof into said last named slot and means for releasably securing the opposite end of said second plate to said second finger, a compression spring disposed in the channel of said bar, one end of said spring engaging an abutment on said bar and the opposite end engaging said slide to urge said slide and said second finger toward said first finger and a finger engaging member on said slide disposed in the plane of said handle, whereby upon grasping said handle and said finger engaging member said second finger may be moved away from said first finger to engage the projecting wires with an internal surface to be cleaned.

2. A device for cleaning internal cylindrical surfaces, as defined in claim 1, in which the projecting ends of said wires are beveled to provide scraping edges.

3. A device for cleaning internal surfaces, as defined in claim 1, in which a clearance is provided between said first and second plates and said wires at one side of said ribs to permit flexing of said wires during a cleaning operation.

4. A device for cleaning internal surfaces, as defined in claim 1, in which said wires are adhesively secured to a non-metallic backing.

5. A device for cleaning internal surfaces, as defined in claim 1, in which said wires are adhesively secured to a backing.

6. A device for cleaning internal surfaces, said device including a frame comprising an elongated bar, a handle on one end of said bar extending at substantially right angles thereto, a finger on the opposite end of said bar extending at substantially right angles thereto in the plane of said handle, said finger having an elongated longitudinally disposed slot in the free end, a flat brush comprising a plurality of parallel wires disposed on the outer surface of said finger over said slot with said wires disposed transversely and projecting outwardly of one side edge of said finger, means for clamping said brush in position comprising a plate having a hook at one end received over the free end of said finger, a longitudinal rib on said plate in alignment with said slot and engaging said wires to force the center portions thereof into said slot and means for releasably securing the opposite end of said plate to said finger, a slide slidably received on said bar, a second finger on the end of said slide adjacent said first finger extending at substantially right angles to said slide in the plane of said first finger, said second finger having an elongated longitudinally disposed slot in the free end, a second flat brush comprising a plurality of parallel wires disposed on the inner surface of said second'finger over the slot therein with said wires disposed transversely and projecting outwardly of the side edge of said second finger opposite to said one side edge of said first finger, means for clamping said second brush in position comprising a second plate having a hook at one end received over the free end of said second finger, a longitudinal rib on said second plate in alignment with the slot in said second finger and engaging the wires of said second brush to force the center portions thereof into said last named slot and means for releasably securing the opposite end of said second plate to said second finger, a compression spring having one end engaging an abutment on said bar and the opposite end engaging said slide to urge said slide and said second finger toward said first finger and a finger engaging member on said slide disposed in the plane of said handle, whereby upon grasping said handle and said finger engaging member said second finger may be moved away from said first finger to engage the projecting wires with an internal surface to be cleaned.

7. A device for cleaning internal surfaces, said device including a frame comprising an elongated bar, a handle on one end of said bar, a finger on the opposite end of said bar extending in the plane of said handle, said finger having an elongated longitudinally disposed slot in the free end, a flat brush comprising a plurality of parallel wires disposed on the outer surface of said finger over said slot with said wires disposed transversely and projecting outwardly of one side edge of said finger, means for clamping said brush in position comprising a plate having a hook at one end received over the free end of said finger, a longitudinal rib on said plate in alignment with said slot and engaging said wires to force the center portions thereof into said slot and means for releasably securing the opposite end of said plate to said finger, a slide slidably received on said bar, a second finger on the end of said slide adjacent said first finger extending in the plane of said first finger, said second finger having an elongated longitudinally disposed slot in the free end, a second flat brush comprising a plurality of parallel wires disposed on the inner surface of said second finger over the slot therein with said wires disposed transversely and projecting outwardly of the side edge of said second finger opposite to said one side edge of said first finger, means for clamping said second brush in position comprising a second plate having a hook at one end received over the free end of said second finger, a longitudinal rib on said second plate in alignment with the slot in said second finger and engaging the wires of said second brush to force the center portions thereof into said last named slot and means for releasably securing the opposite end of said second plate to said second finger, a compression spring having one end engaging an abutment on said bar and the opposite end engaging said slide to urge said slide and said second finger toward said first finger and a finger engaging member on said slide disposed in the plane of said handle, whereby upon grasping said handle and said finger engaging member said second finger may be moved away firom said first finger to engage the projecting Wires with an internal surface to be cleaned.

8. A device for cleaning internal surfaces, said device including a frame comprising an elongated bar, a handle on one end of said bar, a finger on the opposite end of said bar extending in the plane of said handle, said finger having an elongated longitudinally disposed slot in the free end, a fiat brush comprising a plurality of parallel wires disposed on the outer surface of said finger over said slot with said wires disposed transversely and projecting outwardly of one side edge of said finger, means for clamping said brush in position comprising a plate, a longitudinal rib on said plate in alignment with said slot and engaging said wires to force the center portions thereof into said slot and means for releasably securing said plate to said finger, a slide slidably received on said bar, a second finger on the end of said slide adjacent said first finger extending in the plane of said first finger, said second finger having an elongated longitudinally disposed slot in the free end, a second flat brush comprising a plurality of parallel wires disposed on the inner surface of said second finger over the slot therein with said wires disposed transversely and projecting outwardly of the side edge of said second finger opposite to said one side edge of said first finger, means for clamping said second brush in position comprising a second plate, a longitudinal rib in said second plate in alignment with the slot in said second finger and engaging the wires of said second brush to force the center portions thereof into said last named slot and means for releasably securing said second plate to said second finger, a compression spring having one end engaging an abutment on said bar and the opposite end engaging said slide to urge said slide and said second finger toward said first finger and a finger engaging member on said slide disposed in the plane of said handle, whereby upon grasping said handle and said finger engaging member said second finger maybe moved away from said first finger to engage the projecting wires with an internal surface to be cleaned.

9. A device for cleaning internal surfaces, said device including a frame comprising an elongated bar, a handle on one end of said bar, a finger on the opposite end of said bar, a fiat brush comprising a plurality of parallel wires disposed on the outer surface of said finger with said wires disposed transversely and projecting outwardly of one side edge of said finger, means for clamping said brush in position comprising a plate engaging said wires and means for releasably securing said plate to said finger, a slide slidably received on said bar, a second finger on the end of said slide adjacent said first finger extending in the plane of said first finger, a second flat brush comprising a plurality of parallel Wires disposed on the inner surface of said second finger with said wires disposed transversely and projecting outwardly of the side edge of said second finger opposite to said one side edge of said first finger, means for clamping said second brush in position comprising a second plate engaging said last named wires and means for releasably securing said second plate to said second finger, yielding means urging said slide and said second finger toward said first finger and a finger engaging member on said slide, whereby upon grasping said handle and said finger engaging memher said second finger may be moved away from said first finger to engage the projecting wires with an internal surface to be cleaned.

10. A device for cleaning internal surfaces, said device including a frame comprising an elongated bar, a handle on one end of said bar, a finger rigidly fixed to the opposite end of said bar, a brush secured to said finger, a slide slidably received on said bar, a second finger rigidly fixed on the end of said slide adjacent said first finger,

said second finger being disposed in the plane of said first finger, a second brush secured to said second finger, resilient means urging said slide and said second finger toward said first finger and a finger engaging member on said slide, whereby upon grasping said handle and said finger engaging member said second finger may be moved away from said first finger to engage said brushes with an internal surface to be cleaned.

No references cited. 

